Sunday, October 19, 2008

The Ghost of Todd Jones

Searching for meaning in this meaningful Game 7 between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays tonight? Search no more my friends, I have the antidote to your query...Todd Jones. What's the connection? Todd Jones pitched for the BoSox in 2003, was signed as a free agent by the then DEVIL Rays in January of 2004 to only be released in March, then signed with the Reds before being traded to the Phils to end the '04 season. Mr. Jones (no, not of Counting Crows song reference) had a good MLB career spanning 16 years while pitching in nearly 1,000 games and racking up 319 saves. However, he was absolutely terrible for Beantown, Tampa, and Philly. In Boston he came over to help for the playoff push, but his pitching nearly pushed them out of the playoffs (5.52 era/1.53 whip). He was so terrible in Tampa that he never even made it through spring training, then in Philly he also came over for a playoff drive, and this time successfully drove them out of the playoffs (4.97/1.70). So, whoever our Phightins end up facing in the World Series, one thing is for sure is that the Ghost of Todd Jones will be there...where's Scooby Doo when you need him?

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Back-to-the-Future:Yesterday Corey posed the question in the double-entree Saturday Poll- who is your "Preferred Opponent" for the Phillies in the World Series. 18 voters chose the Red Sox while 40 of you picked the Rays. Sorry to inform you of this, but your votes mean nothing (hope, that doesn't hold true in November's election). Why? Cole Hamels is apparently a fortuneteller, because he predicted a Boston/Philly World Series back in June.

From MLBTR-The Phillies may be looking for a way to replace Pat Burrell cheaply in order to pursue a free agent starter. One proposed method would be to move Greg Dobbs to left field. Sherman notes that there wouldn't be much difference in range between Burrell and Dobbs. Dobbs posted an .824 OPS this season in 226 ABs, but the alarming thing is that 217 of those ABs came against right-handed pitching. Dobbs was just 1 for 9 against lefties in 2008, and has just 52 career ABs against LHP, in which he's posted a .579 OPS. A plattoon with Eric Brutnlett could work, but if I were a Philadelphia fan, I'd be hoping for an alternative solution to this. Sherman reminds us that the Phils were players for Manny Ramirez in July...

*I hate Manny's attitude, but love Manny's bat. I would kill myself if a Dobbs/Bruntlett platoon was proposed to fill Burrell's void.

Well, there we have it. Phils vs. Rays, and one of those teams will emerge as the World Series champs. You'd be a very rich man if you had put a bet on that as the WS matchup at the start of the season...

As dramatic as the ALCS was, I really think this puts the Phils in their best possible position. Granted, they had an entire off-week, and that has historically been bad, but there's nothing you can do about it...and honestly, it means that our arms have more bullets left in em.

On the other hand, the Rays have used 2 starts that they shouldn't have needed (by their top guns, Shields and Garza) and their bats definitely quieted down in Games 6 and 7. Also, their bullpen has had its confidence completely dashed due to the sorry shenanigans of ALCS Game 5.

I guess what I'm saying is that I believe in the Phils in the World Series! GO PHILS!